Tidal Crossings Inventory and Assessment
8T&B funded the Parker River Clean Water Association to prepare a comprehensive report on tidal restrictions in all nine member communities.
A tidal crossing is defined as a culvert that crosses a tidal river, creek, or ditch. The restriction of tidal flow can dramatically alter the productivity of a salt marsh. When salt water cannot reach the upstream side due to restricted flow through a collapsed or restricted culverts, the marsh is changed in its habitat composition through the introduction of invasive species. Restoring tidal flow allows the impacted marsh to reestablish itself as a highly productive salt water marsh. 125 sites were evaluated, of which 59 were assessed as potentially restrictive and 25 most restrictive.
